The Best Electric Leaf Blowers – 20184.71/5 (7)

A decent leaf blower makes short work of yard work. Much more effective than using a broom, you can quickly clear leaves, debris, lawn clippings and more away from the paved areas of your yard.

There are 3 main categories of leaf blower – gasoline powered, cordless electric, and the corded electric types we will look at here. You will need a power outlet within a reasonable distance of your yard if you decide on a corded electric blower. Also consider noise regulations in your area – generally electric leaf blowers are quieter than their gasoline counterparts, however it’s best to confirm the model you choose conforms to your local regulations.

If you would prefer to do without the power lead, have a look at the best battery-powered leaf blowers here.

Some blowers come with a bag attachment, and can be used as vacuums as well as leaf blowers. The vacuum types usually have a mulching facility, which chops debris down to a smaller size for easier disposal (or potentially for use as garden mulch).

Safety Notice: you should always use a GFCI power outlet for any corded electrical equipment being used outdoors, including leaf blowers.

Once you have decided on the type of blower, the main differences between the different models available are noise, air speed, portability, quality and price.

Here are the most popular electric leaf blowers on the market today:

Black & Decker BV6600 High Performance Blower/Vac/Mulcher

12 amp 3-in-1 blower, vacuum and mulcher

​140mph – 250mph, variable speed

Disposable leaf bag system

​Can grind up to 16 bags of mulch down to one

​Tool-free changing between vacuum and blower

​Noise : 68 dBA

​Weight 8.1lb

​Warranty: 2 years

Black & Decker BV6000 High Performance Blower/Vac/Mulcher

12 amp 3-in-1 blower, vacuum and mulcher

​180mph/250 mph, two fixed speeds

Disposable leaf bag system

​Can grind up to 16 bags of mulch down to one

​Tool-free changing between vacuum and blower

​Noise : 68 dBA

​Weight 8.1lb

​Warranty: 2 years

Black & Decker BV5600 High Performance Blower/Vac/Mulcher

12 amp 3-in-1 blower, vacuum and mulcher

​180mph/250 mph, two fixed speeds

​Can grind up to 16 bags of mulch down to one

​Tool-free changing between vacuum and blower

​Noise : 68 dBA

​Weight 8.1lb

​Warranty: 2 years

The Best Electric Leaf Blower​ - 3 To Choose From

Fundamentally, these 3 blower / vac / mulchers are very similar, and do more-or-less the same job – the primary differences are the the attachments they come with, and the ability to adjust the air speed.

BV5600 vs BV6000

​Air Speed

Both the BV5600 and BV6000 have 2 selectable fixed speeds (180mph and 250mph). If 180mph is too much, or a speed in between is ideal, you should look at the BV6600.

​Attachments

BV5600: leaf blaster attachment

BV6000: attachable diffuser

​Accessories

The BV6000 comes with a disposable leaf bag system and a detachable strap.

BV6000 vs BV6600

​Air Speed

The BV6000 has 2 selectable fixed speeds (180mph and 250mph). The BV6600's air speed is infinitely adjustable by the user, you can set it to any speed between 140mph to 250mph.

​Attachments

Both the BV6000 & BV6600 are supplied with an attachable diffuser.

The BV6600 comes with an additional rake attachment.

​Accessories

Both the BV6000 & BV6600 come with a disposable leaf bag system and a detachable strap.

Common Features Of All 3 B&D Leaf Blowers

All 3 feature metal fans (which prevent clogging), quick & easy changing between vacuum and blower (no tools required), soft grip handles, and built-in cord retainers. The blowers themselves weigh just over 8 pounds. The bags can hold about another 20lb of mulch when vaccuming. Noise levels are about average for the type (68dBa is around the same noise level as a domestic indoor vaccum cleaner).

If you want the basic model, the 2 fixed speeds are enough for you and you’re not concerned about the extra attachments, the BV5600 would be the best bet. If you want the attachments but not the infinitely variable speed selection, choose the BV6000. The ultimate Black & Decker electric corded leaf blower is the BV6600.

Beware, if you're shopping around, of the older Black & Decker BV3600. This model is inferior to the BV5600 in several ways, not least of which is a plastic impeller, instead of the metal impeller featured in our top picks. The (very small) cost saving is not worth it in our opinion.

We like (BV5600/BV6000/BV6600):

Powerful

High maximum air speed / multiple speeds

​Good range of attachments

​Quieter than some competitors

​Good value for blower / vac / mulcher

Respected brand name

We don't like (BV5600/BV6000/BV6600):

Short warranty period compared to competitors

Heavier than some lower-priced alternatives

Greenworks 24012 7A Electric Blower

7 Amp motor

​Simple light weight design

​Easy to use and easy to maintain

​160mph air speed

​Safety Cord Lock feature

​Noise : 97 dBA

Weight 4.5lb

Warranty: 4 years

This lightweight model is a blower only (no vacuuming or mulching capability). It is extremely lightweight, and is backed by an impressive 4 year warranty (residential use only). It features a cord retainer device, to prevent the extension cord from becoming unplugged when using the blower. On the downside, the speed is not adjustable & is significantly lower than the Black and Decker products. The noise rating is on the high side – ear protection as well as safety glasses and a dust mask are advisable with this blower (as they are with all leaf blowers).

The Greenworks 24012 is a great option if you are looking for a lightweight, low cost blower.

We like:

Lightweight

Long warranty

Good value

​Quieter than some competitors

​Good value for blower / vac / mulcher

Respected brand name

We don't like:

Single speed

Noisy

​No vacuum or mulching facility

Less power & airflow than rivals

Toro 51621 UltraPlus 12A Variable Speed Leaf Blower Vacuum

12 amp 3-in-1 blower, vacuum and mulcher

​Variable speed, up to 250mph

​Includes vacuum tube, bottom-zip bag & cord storage hook

​Infinitely variable speed control

​Noise: 68dBa

Weight: 8.9lb

Warranty: 2 years

The Toro 51621 seems at first glance to be broadly similar to the 3 Black and Decker models mentioned above – same power, same maximum air speed, same metal impeller, similar noise levels, similar weight. However the Toro model comes with some extra attachments, which may justify its extra expense:

An oscillating nozzle, which automatically sweeps air back and forth making a wider blowing path without moving your wrist

A power insert for wet & heavy leaves

A concentrator for use in corners & crevices

The Toro 51621 comes with a re-usable, bottom-zip vacuum bag, which can also be used to store the device and all the attachments.

Toro 51621 vs 51619

Like Black & Decker, Toro seem to be in the business of competing against themselves! As well as the 51621, Toro also make the 51619, which is almost identical.

Key differences:

The 51621 has a leaf-shredding ring (patented by Toro), which is claimed to reduce up to 97% of mulch to less than 1/2". The same statistic for the 51619 is 88%

The 51619 doesn't have the oscillating nozzle that comes with the 51621

The 51621 is usually a bit more expensive, though prices do vary.

​Apart from these differences, the two models appear to be identical.

Pros and Cons

We like:

Powerful

High maximum air speed

Variable speed

Good range of attachments

​Quieter than some competitors

We don't like:

Short warranty period compared to competitors

Heavier than some cheaper alternatives

Usually priced towards the high end of the price range of corded blowers

WORX WG506 7.5A Corded Blower

7.5 Amp, 2-speed, lightweight blower

​130mph/160 mph, two fixed speeds

​Simple tool free assembly

​Air volume 160cf/m

Noise: not stated

Weight: 4.4lb

This is a blower only (similar to the Greenworks 24012 above, no vacuuming or mulching capability). The WORX WG506 2-speed electric blower is lightweight at 4.4lb, and easy to use. Assembly is straightforward (no tools are required). This blower is not as powerful or versatile as some others here, but for those on a budget or looking for a lighter-weight blower, it may fit the bill.

We like:

Compact size

Very light weight

Quick assembly with no tools required

Good value

We don't like:

Air speed lower than competitors

No vacuum or mulching facility

WORX WG520 600CFM Electric Leaf Blower

12 Amp lightweight blower

​60mph – 110 mph, variable speed

​High capacity air volume with turbine fan technology

​Lightweight and ergonomic one-hand operation

​Noise: not stated

​Weight: 6.4lb

Warranty: 3 years

The WORX WG520 Blower is a high capacity air volume blower, delivering up to 600cfm (similar to some backpack blowers). With air speeds up to 110mph and a variable-speed control system, this blower is suitable for heavier-duty work than the WG506 above. Like the WG506 and the Greenworks 24012, this is a blower only with no vacuum or mulching functions. This blower is suitable for large and small jobs, everything from sweeping the driveway and patio after mowing, to piling up leaves on a fall afternoon.

Considering its light weight, the air volume is exceptional – not long ago, you would have needed a gasoline engine at a much higher price point to move this much air.

We like:

Compact size

Light weight

Quick assembly with no tools required

Large air volume

Decent warranty

We don't like:

Air speed lower than competitors

No vacuum or mulching facility

Some other blowers or blower vacs may offer better value

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Recalls

The Black & Decker BV5600, BV6000 and BV6600 were the subject of a recall in September 2016. The recall notice states there were four incidents where the fan cover unexpectedly came off and the users received cuts to their fingers, from contact with the fan.

You can tell if your model is affected by reading the nameplate (on the right side of the motor housing). The affected models have the model number and "Type 1" on the nameplate. Later models without the fault will have "Type 2" displayed.

Any of these blowers sold since September 2016 should be the later, corrected model (it is illegal to continue to sell a defective appliance to the public, once it's subject to a recall notice). However, it's safest to check for yourself which model you have.

If you have one of the affected models, contact Black & Decker for a free repair kit. Their toll-free number is 866-937-9805.

Hi Brian
Sorry to hear you had trouble with your leaf blower.
Unfortunately this does happen sometimes, though I don’t think it affects B&D any more than most other manufacturers.
Did B&D offer you a replacement or a refund?

One more thought: many electrical power tools have a TOL (thermal overload switch) – this will kill the power for a period of time (usually 30 minutes or more) if the motor overheats for any reason. Did you try your blower again after a couple of hours?